Computing machine



April 29, 1924.

R. G. c. BOA

COMPUTING mourns a Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14; 1923 Q 3 BE mu Eg I? BEE INVENTUR fi auwg Hi5 ATTORNEY WWNEE EES A ril 29, 1924. 1,491,898

R. G. C. BOA

COMPUTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w TNEEEES INVENTUR wamaflw Millie/L, W- HIEATTURNEY A ril 29, 1924. 1,491,899

' R. G. C. BOA

COMPUTING MACHINE Filed June 14. 1923 :s Sheets-Sheet s [IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII /7 WITNESSES 51 INVENTUR A g M MM 43% W HIE ATTDRNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

ROBERT G. C. BOA, 01' HEBKIIE B, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON ACCOUNT- ING MACHINE CORPORATION, OI NEW YORK, 'N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. I

coururme nacnnm.

Application fled June 14, 1988. Serial 10. 845,271.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT G. C. BOA, citizen of the United States,and resident of Herkimer, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Computing Machines, of w ich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to computing machines and it has for its principal ob ect to provide certain im rovements in clearance proof mechanism or algebraic computing mechanism.

My invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be fully set forth herein and particularly pointed out in the claims.

One instanceof my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view more or less diagrammatic in character of a Remington accounting machine to which my invention is applied.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism.

Figure 3 is a to plan view on a small scale of a portion 0 the mechanism.

Figure 4 is an enlarged right-hand side view of a totalizer having my improvements embodied therein, said totalizer bein shown in section just inside the right-hen frame 1 plate; together with a few associated parts.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 with other parts of the totalizer removed and parts broken Figure 6 1s a partial view of some of the mechanism of F1 4 in section on the line 66 of Fig. 4 and looking toward the rear.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but iaken in section about on the line 88 of ig. -5. Figure 9 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7 in section on the line 99 of Fig. 5, but in this figure some parts are shown in broken lines which would pe sectioned away in aview taken on that In Figures 1, 4, 5 and 8 the parts are shown in position for reading a positive total and in Figure 9 in position for reading a negative total.

The Remington accounting machine to which the invention is here shown applied is well-known in the art, having been long manufactured and the particular form of it shown in the drawing being fully described in the patent to John C. Wahl, No. 1,270,471, dated June 25, 1918. Said machine includes a Remington typewriter with a paper carriage, keys including numeral keys 10 connected to type bars, and all of the other usual mechanism of that machine. The Wahl computing mechanism includes a main truck connected to travel in unison with the typewriter carriage and having mounted thereon any desired number of so-called vertical totalizers or dummies, two vertical totalizers 11 and 12 being shown in the present instance and two dummies 13 and 14. Said truck is supported at its middle on a main frame casting 15 which supports the balance of the com ut ing mechanism, said casting inclu in among other things a bracket 16 at the mi dle of the machine, which bracket supports one of the rollers on which the main truck runs. The main frame of the computing mechanism also includes a number of vertical frame plates of sheet metal, of which only the extreme right-hand one 17 and the second one 18 are shown.' Said framework also includes the trackway on which a cross truck 20 is adapted to travel back and forth to an extent a little in excess of the width.

so as to draw the cross truck along for the width of such column in unison with the vertical totalizer or dummy. The coupler 23-has associated therewith a guard 26 to prevent the truck from running ahead of the vertical totalizer. As the vertical totalizer passes out of the computing column the coupler and guard are cammed downward out of engagement and the cross truck is jumped back toward the right by means of a restoring spring not shown. It will of course be understood that there is a main master wheel operated by the keys 10 across which the vertical totalizers travel and an auxiliary or cross master wheel'19 (Fig. 2) over which the cross totalizer 21 travels. These master wheels are both reversible and they can be turned in the same or in opposite directions to get whatever results in the way of addition and subtraction are required by the particular piece of work in hand. The cross master wheel 19 is controlled in this respect by means of certain cams 27 mounted on suitable ones of the vertical totalizers and dummies, said cams acting to depress a follower roller 28 mounted on a rock arm 30, which arm controls the chan e gear mechanism for the cross master whee by means fully described in the Wahl patent above referred to.

In Fig. 1, the machine is indicated as set up to handle a. loose-leaf ledger, such for example as a bank ledger. A ledger sheet is put into the typewriter and it has four columns corresponding to the totalizers and dummies shown, the first column at the left corresponding to totalizer 11, being for deposits; the second column corresponding to totalizer 12, being for checks; and the third column corresponding to dummy 13, being a column in which the balance of the account is written after adding in the amount of any deposit and subtracting the amount of any check. The fourth column, corresponding to dummy 14, is a column in which the pick-up balance is copied from column 13 when the pa r is first inserted in the machine. It wil be noted that totalizer 12 and dummy 13' are each equipped with subtract cams 27 whereas totalizer 11 and dummy 14 are not so equipped. When a ledger sheet is put into the machine the last line of writing may contain entries in any or all of the first three columns, including the present balance in column 13. The operator copies this balance into column 14 and as the dummy in this column is not equipped with a subtract cam the amount of the balance will be added in the cross totalizer 21. The carriage is then line spaced and drawn back to the right and if this particular customer has made a de osit, the amount of said deposit is ente in column 11 and added' to the pick-up balance in totalizer 21; and if any checks have been cashed on this account these are entered in column 12 and as to talizer 12 is e uipped with a subtract cam the amounts oi said checks will be subtracted from the balance indicated in cross totalizer 21. Said cross totalizer will then show the new. balance of this account which will be copied from said totalizer into column 13. As dummy 13 is equipped with a subtract cam this balance will be subtracted from itself in the cross totalizer 21 which will thereby be restored to zero, ready for the next ledger sheet which will then be inserted in the machine, and similar operations performed. It sometimes happens that the checks exceed the balance which the depositor has in the bank at the time, and the resulting balance will therefore be an overdraft. The computation of this balance will carry the cross totalizer 21 through zero to show a negative total, which in an ordinary totalizer would be indicated by showing a row of nines above the hi hest significant digit, the whole number lndicated on the totalizer being not the true balance but the complement thereof. It is for this reason that an algebraic totalizer is used in the present instance, this being capable of showing the negative balance in its true amount. When the machine shows such a balance the operator before copying it reverses the mechanism by means of a certain universal reversing lever or key at the left-hand end of the Wahl actuator, which key is not shown in the present drawings but is fully described in the Wahl patent above referred to. When the balance is then copied it is preferabl automatically written in red and is adds in the cross totalizer instead of subtracted, due to the reversal of the mechanism. This addition of the negative total brings the cross totalizer 21 to no ative zero.

11 both of the above operations whether the balance be, as usual, a positive one, or, as sometimes happens, a negative one, the operation of copying it in column 13 should bring the cross totalizer 21 to zero, to positive zero in one instance and to negative zero in the other; and clearance proof mechanism .is provided to Warn the operator in case the totalizer does not come to zero, which if it does not will be due to his having incorrectly copied the total.

The clearance proof mechanism shown in the present instance includes devices mounted on the actuator of the computing mechanimn, which devices are like those shown in the pending application of Arthur F. Poole for calculating machines filed July 6, 1922, Serial No. 573,111. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, these devices co-operate with a cer tain lock always employed in the Wahl cross footing machine. The cross truck 20 has projecting rightward therefrom a stop arm III 31 which when said cross truck takes its jump back to the right to normal position strikes against a vertical lever arm 32 and movessaid lever arm a short distance toward the right until it is arrested by coming flat against the right-hand side plate 17. Said lever arm at.1ts lower end is ivoted at 33 to an ear of said side plate, and it is pressed leftward by a flat spring 34. This lever arm passes through a hole in a sliding link 35, which is shown in Fig. 1 broken away. This link connects with certain mechanism in the actuator and operates a lock for the universal bar of the numeral keys. I have not shown the details of this look as it is a wellknown part of the Wahl mechanism and is fully described in thepatent above referred to. The showing herein of the lever 32 and link 35 is intended as a conventional showing of this or any other suitable lock or other warning device to notif the operator in case he has made a mistake in copying the total. As far as my improvements are concerned this 'warning or. notification can be effected in any desired way. In the pres ent instance, it is efi'ected by operating this locking mechanism.

In order to operate the locking lever 32 the clearance proof mechanism includes a three-armed lever 36 ivoted at 37 on a stud projecting forward rom a framepiece 38 secured to the main casting 15 by the same two screws that secure the frame plate 17 to the end of said casting. The depending arm of the lever 36 has a lug 40 bent off therefrom into position to engage the upper end of the lever 32 so that if said lever 36 be rocked counter-clockwise from its normal position shown in Fig. 1, it will operate the lever 32 and lock up the numeral keys. The lever 36 has an u tanding arm with a lug bent off rearwa therefrom and enaging a notch in the upper edge of the iiorizontal arm ofa latch lever 41, which latch lever is pivoted on a stud 42 projecting from the frame iece 38. A spring 43, connecting this latch ever with the upstanding arm of the lever 36, tends to hold said latch lever up in its normal latching position and to swing said three-armed lever to its locking position. The construction is such that if the latch lever 41 be swung slightly clockwise it will release the lever 36 and allow the spring 43 to swing said lever 36 counter-clockwise and operate the lock.

In order at suitable times to operate the latch lever 41 in the manner described said lever has an u tandin arm in position to be struck by t e rightand end of a long push wire 44 which is guided in an ear- 45 of the framepiece 38. This push wire has its left-hand and near the middle of the machine where it is pivoted to the rearwardlv extending arm 46 '(Figs. 1 and 3) of a bell crank which is pivoted on a headed stud 47 depending from a. forwardly projecting shelf-like part of a stationary bracket 48. This bracket has a foot-part which is secured to the upper edge of the frame casting 15 by screws 50. It is made of sheet metal and is bent from said foot-part'first vertically and thence horizontally forward. the stud 47:: depending from the last mentioned part and the arm 46 of the bell crank extending rearward through a suitable hole in. the vertical part of the bracket. The bell crank is vmade of a piece of sheet metal folded back on itself as shown in Fig. 1 so that the arm 46 is pivoted on the lower end of the stud- 47 and the horizontal arm 51 of said lever is pivoted on the upper part of said stud, the two arms of the lever being connected by a yoke-part 52. .This lever is shown in plan view in Fig. 3 where the upper shelf-like part of the bracket 48 is sectioned away. It will be seen that all of this mechanism is situated a little to the right of the bracket 16 hereinbefore described. The lever 46, 51 is held in normal position by a spring 53 and it is adapted to be rocked clockwise as viewed in F i 3 by means which will now be describe end of the arm 51 a ,dog 54 is pivoted at 55 and said dog has a pin 56 adapted to engage the arm 51 to limit the clockwise rotation of the dog about its pivot, said dog being rotated in that direction by a spring 57. The dog has a forwardly projecting arm, the end of which is beveled so as to present an inclined face on its right-hand side and an abrupt face on its left-hand side, as shown in Fig. 3. This dog is en gaged by a tappet or tooth 58 bent up from the free end of a bracket. arm 60 projecting rightward from the dummy 13 to the upper surface of which it is secured by certain screws 59 always present in the Wahl totalizers and dummies. The whole construction is such that in that step of the carriage immediately following the writing of the last digit in column 13, the tappet 58 engaging the inclined face of the dog .54 rocks the lever 51, 46 clockwisein Fig. 3 momentarily, thus imparting a rightward push to the wire 44, the tappet 58 immediately escaping from the dog and allowing" the lever and the wire 44 to be immediately restored to their normal positions by the spring 53. In the travel of the carriage toward the right the abrupt face of the tappet 58 engaging the abrupt face of the dog 54 rocks said dog about its pivot 55 against the tension of its spring 57 without operating the lever 51, 46. It will be perceived that the latch lever 41 is tripped On the free and the threearmed lever 36 is allowed to I rock to its locking position immediately following the writing of. every, number in column 13. y

In that same step of the carriage which trips the lever 36 and allows it to operate the locking lever 32, as just described, the coupler 23, 24 is also cammed loose from the dummy 13, allowing the cross truck 20 to make its jump toward the right; and means are provided whereby if at this time the totalizer 21 is clear it will immediately restore the lever 36 to its normal unlocking position. To this end the lever 36 has a leftward horizontal arm, the construction and mode of operation of which are fully set forth and claimed in the pending appIlication of Arthur F. Poole, Serial 0. 573,111. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 7, this arm has an ear 61 bent rearward therefrom and notched so as to be guided in its up and down movements by the edge of a depending part of the bracket 38. This lever arm therefore is guided against swinging front and back at its free end. Said lever arm also comprises a bar 62 secured to the main lever arm by posts 63 so that the bar 62 stands a little in front of the main lever arm. This bar 62 at its left end is formed with an. upwardly inclined cam edge 64. Said bar also has a horizontal bracket 65 bent off from its upper edge and on said bracket a. cam member 66 is pivoted at 67 and this member is turned clockwise in Fig. 7 by a spring 68, its motion in that direction being limited by a lug 70 of the cam device striking the main lever arm 36. The left-hand part of the device 66 is bent first downward and thence rearward, the rearward shelf 71 constituting a cam having the V-shape indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

In the cross totalizer 21 there is mounted a pivoted trigger 72 which projects a little ways above the back end of the totalizer just inside the right-hand side late. As will be hereinafter described in. etail, this trigger can swing a short distance front and back and when it is in its extreme back position shown in Fig. 4 its straight upper end is in line with the lower edge of the bar 62 when, the latter occu ies its normal position shown in Fig. 1. ut if the lever 36 has been tripped so that this bar 62 inclines downward and if then the cross truck makes its jump toward the right, the end of the trigger 72 can run under the cam edge 64 of said bar 62 and cam said bar to its upper unlocking position. The trigger can occupy this extreme position only when the totalizer is clear. But there is nothing in the totalizer to compel it to occupy that position even if said totalizer is clear, this eing the function of the above described V-shaped cam 71 on the pivoted cam device 66. When the lever 36 is 'in its locking position this cam 71 lies in the path of the trigger 72 even though said trigger may be in its forward position. When the trigger strikes the cam said cam tends to force the trigger to its rear position where it will run under the cam ed 64 of the bar 62 and it will force it to t at osition provided the totalizer is clear. If t e totalizer is not clear and the trigger cannot move to its rear position, then the cam device itself will move toward the front of the machine to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 7, against the tension of its spring 68 and thus allow the trigger 72 to move in front of the bar 62 without restoring the latter to its unlocking position. This description of the mode of operation is given somewhat prematurely, the internal mechanism of the totalizer not yet having been described, because that mode of operation is identical with the mode of operation described in the said Poole application Sr; No. 573,111 in which the bar 62, cam 71, etc., and a trigger functioning like my trigger 72 are all described. My improvements are in the interior of the totalizer 21, as will hereinafter appear.

The interior mechanism of the algebraic totalizer 21 is in most respects identical with that described in the application of Arthur F Poole for calculating machines filed Jan. 7, 1922, Sr. No. 527,605 and it is on that totalizer or on the clearance proof mechanism thereof that my invention is an improvement.

The said totalizer comprises two side plates 73, these being shaped at their rear edges after the ordinary fashion of Wahl totalizer plates so as to dove-tail CV81 a part of the main truck of the machine or of the cross truck 20, and the totalizer also contains the usual releasing handle 74 mounted on a rock shaft 75 and controlling certain hooks 76, and a locating tooth 77. These parts are all of ordinary Wahl construction except that the handle 7 4 and tooth 77 are not right against the side plate as usual, as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1. The totalizer also contains the usual shaft 78 on which the thirty-toothed carrying wheels 80 of the Wahl mechanism are journaled. The totalizer also contains the usual \Vahl transfer mechanism comprising the Geneva wheels 81, journaled on studs projecting from lever arms 82, the latter pivoted respectively on cross rods 84 and 85 and adapted to be operated bythe usual master dog 86. These arms 82 are controlled by the usual springs 87 and 88, and at their upper ends said arms rest against the usual stop screws 90 and control the usual safety bar 91. All of this mechanism is ordinary Wahl construction, well-known in the art and fully described in the Wahl Patent No. 1,270,471.

The motion of the carrying wheels 80 is transmitted by idlers 92 journaled on a cross shaft 93, these idlers or transmitting wheels in the present instance having each twenty journaled on an upper cross shaft 98 an the dials 97 on a lower cross shaft 100. The upper dials are used to indicate positive totals and the lower dials negative totals. The numerals are arranged on the upper dials in the same order as in an ordinary Wahl totalizer but on the lower dials they are arranged in the reverse order andthe whole construction is such that when a zero registers with the sight-opening 101 for the upper dials a 9 registers with the sightopenin 102 on the lower dial of the same denomination, and vice versa.

In the present instance and as more fully described in the application of Arthur Poole, Sr. No. 527,605, there is a special dial at the extreme left of the-system which is colored instead of marked with numerals, but my invention is not concerned with that feature.

In changing from a positive reading to a negative reading, or vice versa it is necessary to add or subtract what is sometimes called a fugitive 1 and it is also usual to shift certain shutters so as to display one or the other of the sets of dials depending on whether the total is a positive or a negative one. In the resent instance these two things are done y substantially the same means as that set forth in the said Poole application, Sr. No. 527,605, said means including a handle 103 projecting through a slot 104, Fig. 1. in front of the casing plate 105 of the totalizer. Said handle is part of adevice which is ivoted on the shaft 93, the construction 0 which can be made out by comparin Figs. 4, 5 and 8. Said device comprises a hub 106 which is directly oted on the shaft 93 and which has a ate 107 staked or otherwise secured on the r1ghthand end of it, the handle 103 consisting in part of a prolongation of this plate. Secured on the left-hand end of the hub 106 is a second plate 108 of triangular form. Thesetwo plates are rigidly connected by three posts 110, 111 and 112. When the handle 103 occupies its lower position, shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and corresponding also to Fig. 8, the mechanism is set to read a positive total, and when the handle occupies its upper position shown in Fig. 9 it is set to read a negative total. I

A shutter 113 is provided for the upper set of dials 95. said shutter having a sightopening 114. The shutter is made as usual in the shape of a sort of bail pivoted on the shaft 98, the right-hand arm 115 of said bail being bifurcated so as to straddle the post 111 in such wise that when the handle" 103 is down the sight-opening 114 registers ered when the handle is down and displayed when the handle is up. I-

In order to add or subtract the fugitive 1 the post 110 is straddled by a bifurcation in a plate 120, the outline of which may be most easily traced in Fig. 9. In that figure this plate is sectioned away but its outline and that of some other parts are indicated by broken lines. The plate .120, as best shown in Fig. 6, is one part of a device which is pivoted on the shaft 78 just inside the righthand frame plate 73. This device comprises a hub 121 which is directly ivoted on the shaft and the plate 120 is stallled on the reduced leftrhand end of said hub. Similarly mounted on the reduced right end of the hub is another late 122, the outline of which is plainly s own in Fig. 4. In their lower parts the plates 120 and 122 are rigidly connected together by a post 123 which is riveted into both plates, so that this whole device including the two plates, this post and hub 121 is-a rigid structure adapted to be rocked b the handle 103 through the post 110. As est shown in Fig. 6 the hub 121 has a flange 124: between which and the plate 120 there is pivoted on said hub a plate 125 the outline of which is best shown in Fig. 8 where it will be seen that among other things the lower part of this plate is bifurcated to straddle loosely the post 123. The construction is such that the plate 125 partakes of the rocking motion of the pivoted device above described but with some lost motion. '1

Journaled on the shaft 78 between the plate 120 and the first carr ing wheel 80 is a gear sector 126, the out ine of which is best shown in Fig. 9, where it will be seen that this sector has at its upper part a number of gear teeth which register with thegear teeth of the carrying wheels 80.- Two pins 127 project rightward from this sector 126 into the plane of the plate 120, which plate hasan arm 128 lying between said pins and adapted to operate them but with lost motion. as will be apparent from the drawing. This lost motion is of such extent that a rocking of the handle 103 between the Fig; 4 and Fig. 9 sitions will cause the a sector 126 to be roe ed to'the extent of one tooth. This will be in positive direction when the handle,103 is moved downward and'in negative direction. when it is moved upward. The extent of motion of the sector 126 is limited by two pins or studs 130 projecting leftward from the frame plate 73 in7position respectively to arrest the pins 12 All of the parts controlled by the handle 103 are yieldingly held in one or the other of their two positions by means of a detent or dog 131 having a V-shaped nose engaging the rounded end of the arm 128 of the plate 120. This dog is pivoted on the frame rod 85, the same as one of the Geneva levers 82 and is similarly controlled by a s ring 88 but this particular lever has no tai extending down to co-operate with the master dog 86. This dog or detent is shaped like one of the levers 82 in this respect, namely, that it extends up to and rests on one of the screws 90 and operates the bar 91. The part of it that is in position to engage the arm 128 is made of V-shape although in the drawing the V is hidden behind that of a member 132 which is riveted to the side of it in order to increase its thickness, this increase in thickness being necessary in order to cause the dog to co-operate not only with the arm 128 of the plate 120 but also with the upward and rearward extension of the plate 125 which is pivoted on the hub 121. This plate 125 has an arm that covers the arm 128 as viewed from the right but is wider and it has a concentric or flat end as shown. The construction is such that when the handle 103 moves from the Fig. 4 position upward, in the first part of the motion the rounded end of the arm 128 cams the dog 131 u ward until said dog is resting on the end 0? said arm 128. By this time the lost motion between the post 123 and the late 125 has been taken up and said plate is forced to follow the arm 128 so that the dog rides out on the flat end of said plate 125 and is thereby retained in its elevated position until near the end of the motion of the handle 103. It escapes from said plate just before the handle completes its motion. As the plate 125 is loose on the hub 121 as soon as the dog 131 gets ofi the end of it, said dog is snapped down quickly by its spring 88 and drives the arm'128 as far as it will go, pressing the pin 127 against the pin 130 and holding it there. This quick motion also has certain advanta es in connection with aligning the whee s which it is not necessary to go into here. In moving the handle the other way the operation is similar but in the reverse direction. The whole efl'ect of it besides shifting the shutters is to move the sector 126 one tooth.

In order to transmit the motion of the sector 126 to the first carrying wheel 80, a pinion havin s ur teeth on both sldes nstead of on t e eft side only, as other pmions of the carryin mechanism, is provided which connects said sector with and carrying wheel in the manner shown in the drawing. This pinion is mounted on one of the arms 82 which is controlled by the master dog 86 the same as the other pinions. It wi 1 be perceived that when this pinion is in mesh it looks the lowest carrying wheel to the sector 126 and as the latter is firmly held in one position or the other b the dog 131 the register wheels are proper held.

From the above description it wi 1 be seen that whenever the o erator observes that the dials which are visible show a 9 on the highest wheel, or in this articular construction show a certain co or on the highest wheel, in order to read the total, it is.necessary to shift the handle 103 and that when said handle is shifted it will result in displaying the other set of dials and in adding or subtracting the in itive 1.

The algebraic tota izer mechanism described in the Poole application, Sr. No. 527,605, includes means to prevent the shifting of the handle 103 except when the totalizer 21 is in its extreme right-hand position out of mesh with the master wheel 19. This means includes a frame bar 133 secured to the frame plates 17 and 18 by two screws 134 and 135, the former bein a framing screw ordinarily used in the ahl machine and the latter being one of two screws by which in the ordinary Wahl machine there is secured to the plate 18 an aligning device 136 comprising a sort of tooth which registers wlth that one of the teeth of the master wheel 19 which is in position to directly engage the carrying wheels 80. The bar 133 has a flange 137 which constitutes a sort of right-hand prolongation of the tooth 136 except that said flange 137 does not come up quite so high. This flange 137 is however cut away at 138. The late 122, which it will be recalled is a ri i element of the pivoted device including a so the plate 120, is prolonged downward as best shown in Fig. 4 with two radial edges so disposed that when the handle 103 is down one of these edges rides just in front of the flange 137 and when the handle is up the other edge rides just behind the flange 137, and in either event said flan e prevents the device and the handle itsel from being shifted except when the totalizer is in its extreme right-hand position, in which position the plate 122 has passed to the ri ht of the end 138 of the flange 137. All of t e mechanism above described is substantially as set forth in the Poole application, Sr. No. 527,605, above referred to.

' In order to test such a totalizer as this for clearance, it is necessary, as has been hereinbefore explained, to distinguish between positive and negative zero, because each train of gearing in the register stands difl'erently to the extent of one tooth when the u per dials 95 show zero from what they o 1,4e1,sos

when the lower dials 97 show zero; and my is more or less in the nature of a flat bar first order pivoted at its middle and it is so extending across the totalizer and pivoted at its middle as viewed from one end on trunnions 141 projectin from the ends of saidbar into holes in t e side plates 73 of the totalizer. As viewed from one end this feeler bar is in the nature of a lever" of the situated that if it is rocked up at its forward part, it will enga e the pinions 96 as shown in Fig. 8 and i? it is rocked up at its rear part it will engage the transmitting wheels 92 as shown in Fig. 9. In order to i avoid interference with the dials 97 the front erat'e with the teeth of the w eels 92.

part of this feeler bar is milled out as shown in Fig. 9 at 142, leaving webs or comb teeth 143 adapted to engage the pinions 96. The rear part,of the bar is shaped on a curve as shown so as pro erly to co-op- Each of said pinions 96 is made with a short tooth 144 and each of the transmitting gears 92 is made with two short teeth 145 diaand which .for negative 0 earance.

' o enin metrically opposite to each other. Theoretically it is immaterial which of the wheels 96 or 92 is used to test for itive clearance In the present instance it has been found convenlent to use the gears 96 to test for positive clearance as shown in Fig. 8 and the gears 92 to test for negative clearance as shown in Fig. 9. The short tooth 144 is therefore so placed on each pinion. 96 that one of the webs or comb teeth 143 will engage it in the manner shown in Fig. 8 when the upper dial 95 has its zero re stering with t e sight- I 101; and t e short teeth 145 are so situate as to co-operate with the rear part of the plate 140 as shown in Fig. 9 when the lower dials 97 show zero at the sightopening 102.

This feeler bar is notdirectly controlled by any spring and there is nothing to press it against either set of wheels under the normal conditions ofv use of the totalizer but means are provided for swinging it against one or the other set of wheels at the proper time.

The trigger 72 is in the nature of an angled lever as best shown in Fig; 4 comrising as it does not 0111 the upstanding liaver arm hereinbefore re erred to but an other lever arm 146 extending forward and upward from the frame rod 84. The free end of this arm 146 is ofi-set leftward as shown in Fi 4 and 5 and a in .or stud 147 projects rig tward from its res and into a slot 148 formed in a bell-crank 150 which is pivoted on a headed dpivot pin 151 riveted into the right-hand si e plate 73. The other arm of this bell-crank is also ofi-set inward and is provided at'its free end with a stud 152 to which is pivoted a sort of link or connecting member 153, the outline of which is plainly shown in Fig. 4.. This connecting device is made with a ood-sized hole in it through which the sha t 93 asses in such a way as not to interfere wit the necessary motion of the connecting device 153. Downward'and forward from said shaft 93 said connecting device has an open-ended slot 154 which embraces a stud 155 projecting rightward from the plate 107 connected with the handle 103. The connecting device 153 is thus so controlled from the handle 103 as that when said handle is moved downward to its positive osition the device 153 is swung rearwar a certain distance, and when said handle is moved upward to its negative position this device is swung forward about its ivot 152. The connecting device 153 has a ong finger 156 which when said connector is in its rear or positive osition contacts with a stud 157 projecting from the right-hand end of the feeler bar 140 near the front of said bar. Near the rear of said bar a second stud 158 projects ri htward in such position as not to be afiecte by the finger 156 when in its positive position but when the coupler is swung to its negative position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 9 then this pin 158 occupies a slot or notch 160 in said connector 153 so that in that position of the parts it is the in 158 that is operated by said connector. n Fig. 4 the parts are shown in positive position and the tri r 72 is shown in its rear position but 1 said trigger were moved toits forward position the in 147 would rock the bell crank 150 whic would 'move the connector 153 downward where it would not have an 'efi'ect on the feeler bar 140. In the drawing this trigger 72 has been forced rearward pulling up on the connector 153 whose finger 156 has the feeler bar 140 u ward at its front edge into engagement wit the pinions 96,

SWllllg all of which in this drawing are necessarily in their zero positions as it will be observed that the feeler bar is enga ing the short tooth 144 of this pinion. ad any one of "the pinions 96 been in some other position unlocked the machine, thus showing that the total had not been correctly copied. As shown in the drawing, however, all of the dials 95 do show zero, the feeler 140 was therefore able to move to its clear position shown, and the trigger 7 2 was able to move to its. rear position and unlock the machine.

It. will be noted in Fig. 4 that the short tooth 145 of the gear 92 is not in position to be engaged by the rear part of the feeler bar 140. If, however, the handle 103 were moved upward the wheels would all be turned one tooth-space, thus bringing the short teeth 145 into position to be engaged by the bar 140 as shown in Fig. 9 where it would be observed all of the lower dials 97 display zeros as otherwise the parts would not have been able to move to the position shown.

It will be perceived that I have provided a sort of double feeler device pivoted to swing about an axis through its middle and adapted to be swung into engagement with one gear of each denomination gear train in order to test for positive zero and adapted to be swung in the opposite direction into engagement with another gear of each denominational train in order to test for negative zerothat the machine includes a device, in the present instance that of which the handle 103 is a part, which stands in one position to display a positive total and in another position to display a negative total, and that the connections to this double feeler device are automatically changed by said device so that when said device or handle is in one position the feeler device will automatically be rocked one way and into engagement with one set of gears to test for one kind of zero and when said device occupies its other position the connections will automatically be such as to cause said feeler device to be swung the other "way to engage another set of gears to test for the other sort of zero. When any number is indicated on the dials, the long teeth of the gears 92 and 96 hold the feeler device 140 in an initial position from which it can be swung one way or the other to test for positive or negative clearance, as described.

It will be perceived that the mechanism which I have put into this totalizer for the purpose of testing for clearance is very simple and very easily added to the algebraic total mechanism of the totalizer, that it is positive in its action, and that it does not require the feeler to be rubbing over the 7 wheels while the latter are turning.

Various changes can be made in the details of construction and arrangement without departing from my. invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a computmg machine, the combination with algebraic computing mechanism ing mechanism and for actuating said feeler in another direction from the same initial position to make another test of the registering mechanism.

3. n a computing machine, the combination with algebraic computing mechanism including denominational re ister trains, of a pivoted feeler, and means or rocking said feeler about its pivot into contact with one set of register wheels to test for positive zero and for rocking said feeler in the opposite direction-into contact with another set of wheels to test for negative zero.

4. In a computing machine, the combination with algebraic computing mechanism including denominational register trains, of a double feeler pivoted to rock about an axis through the middle thereof, and means for rockin said feeler one way to bring one part of said feeler into contact with one set of re isterwheels to test for positive zero and the opposite way to bring another part of said feeler-into contact with another set of wheels to test for negative zero.

5. In a computing machine, the combination with al ebraic computing mechanism including reglster wheels and a part which stands in one position to indicate a ositive total and in another sition to in icate a negative total, of a fee er to test said mechanism for clearance, and means for operating said feeler, said means including a device shiftable in unison with the aforesaid part in such wise that when said part is in its positive position said device 1s adapted to actuate said feeler in one direction to test for positive zero and when said part is in its negative position said device is adapted to actuate said feeler in another direction from the same initial position to test for negative zero.

6. In a computing machine, the combination with algebraic computing mechanism including register "wheels and a part which stands in one position to indicate a itive total and in another-position to in icate a negative total, of a pivoted feeler to test said mechanism forclearanoe, and an actuating device for said feeler so connected with the aforesaid part as that whensaid part is in positive position said device is adapted to act on said feeler at one side of its pivot to move said feeler in one direction to test for Ill ' said positive zero and when said part is in its negative position said device is adapted to act on said feeler on the other side of its ivot to move said feeler in the opposite direction to test for negative zero.

7. In a computing machine, the combination with algebraic computing mechanism including .in each denomination a register train com risin a dialwheel and a transmittin w eel,o clearance proof mechanism includmg a feeler adapted to engage the dial wheels to test for one kind of zero and to enga e the said transmitting wheels to tees for t e other kind of zero.- 8. In a computing machine, the combination with algebraic computing mechanism including register wheels, of clearance proof mechanism mcluding feeler mechanism and means for actuating said feeler mechanism, said means including a link, means for moving said link lengthwise and means for swmgin said link, and meansgvhereb when in is swung to one position a ength- ,wise motion of it will operate one device to cause a feeler to contact with register wheels to test for positive zero and when said link is swung to its other osition a len hwise motion of said link W1 1 act on anot er device to cause a feeler to contact with register wheels to test for negative zero.

9. In a computing machine, the combination with algebraic computing mechanism including reglster wheels, of clearance proof mechanism including an actuating link shiftable to couple it to one or another of two devices, and means for actuating said link, said link when actuated operating one of said devices to test for positive zero or the other device to test for negative zero.

10. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of means for testing said registering mechanism comprising a link 153, means for setting .said link, in any one of a lurality of positions one setting for each 0? a plurality of kinds of test, means for actuating said link when it is in either one of said settings, and feeler inelans operated by the actuation of said 11. In a computing machine, the combination withregistering mechanism. of a feeler device 140, a link 153 for operating said feeler device, means for setting said link in a plurality of positions for different tests, and means for actuating said link.

Signed at Ilion, in the county of Herkimer, and State of New York, this 8th day of June, A. D. 1923.

ROBERT G. C. BOA.

Witnesses:

Lnn S. MOCORN, MARY I. PURPURA. 

